Sexual Violence Survey 2022 – Disclosure of Experiences

Overall lifetime sexual violence and disclosure levels

This chapter looks at the overall prevalence of lifetime sexual violence experienced in Ireland, analysed by a wide range of sociodemographic characteristics. It also provides details on the disclosure rate for those who experienced sexual violence in their lifetime also broken down by sociodemographic characteristics. Lifetime prevalence in this context refers to the proportion of the population who have ever experienced sexual violence. Sexual violence is defined as a range of non-consensual experiences, from non-contact experiences to non-consensual sexual intercourse. Experience of sexual violence in their lifetime refers to those who experienced sexual violence at least once in their lifetime, whether as an adult or as a child or both. It is based on replies from those aged 18 and over. See the Background Notes for further details.

Data on the disclosure of sexual violence experienced is provided in this chapter. When we refer to disclosure in the following text it refers to having told one person or many persons or an organisation/group. The statistics quoted in that table relate to those who disclosed experiencing sexual violence and do not relate to the overall population of adults in Ireland.

The demographic breakdowns provided are based on the information given by the respondent when the survey was collected, and so may not necessarily accord with their demographic profile when the sexual violence took place (for example, they may have had a lower educational level when the sexual violence occurred but have a higher educational level now when engaging with the survey).

In summary, in terms of those who ever experienced sexual violence, people with a higher level of education reported higher levels of sexual violence. Almost half (48%) of those with a third level education reported ever experiencing sexual violence compared with 15% of those with up to a primary level of education. Women reported having experienced higher levels of sexual violence than men. The data also highlights a clear age difference in terms of experiences of sexual violence, with younger people reporting having ever experienced sexual violence at higher levels than older persons. Bisexuals and gay/lesbian people reported higher levels of sexual violence (72% and 57% respectively) than heterosexual/straight people (39%). These themes around prevalence levels are replicated in disclosure levels – for instance, women and younger people were more likely to disclose. Women who experienced sexual violence in their lifetime were more likely to have disclosed at least one experience (53%) than men (34%). The equivalent disclosure rate for those aged 18-24 was 50%, higher than those aged 65 and over (41%). Further information on disclosure and the overlap between adult and child experiences was published in the Disclosure chapter in the Sexual Violence Survey 2022 - Main Results publication.

Almost half of adults with a third level education reported ever experiencing sexual violence

Key findings for those who ever experienced sexual violence:

• Almost half of adults (48%) with a third level education reported ever experiencing sexual violence. These adults were over three times more likely than those with up to a primary education (15%) to report having ever experienced sexual violence. See Figure 3.1 and Table 3.1.
• Those who were single were more likely to have ever experienced sexual violence (47%) compared with those who were widowed (23%).
• Those who were “Asian or Asian Irish” were less likely to have reported ever experiencing sexual violence (28%) than those who were “White Irish” (41%) or “White Roma/traveller/other white background” (43%).
• Bisexual and gay/lesbian people reported higher levels (72% and 57% respectively) of sexual violence ever experienced than heterosexual/straight people (39%).
• People with a disability experienced sexual violence as an adult at a higher rate (45%) than those without a disability (39%).
• Students were more likely to have ever experienced sexual violence (55%) than those who were retired (28%) or employed (43%).

Over half of non-Irish citizens who ever experienced sexual violence have disclosed to someone

Key findings for those who ever experienced sexual violence and whether they disclosed:

• Irish citizens who ever experienced sexual violence were less likely to have disclosed (46%) than non-Irish citizens (53%). See Table 3.2.
• Adults with a third level education who ever experienced sexual violence were more likely to have disclosed to someone (49%) than those with a higher secondary education level of education (42%).
• Bisexual people who experienced sexual violence in their lifetime disclosed at a higher rate (68%) than heterosexuals/straight people (45%). See Figure 3.2.
• People with a disability who ever experienced sexual violence were more likely to disclose (52%) than those without a disability (43%).